Practice MC Questions

Question 1

A physics book is sitting on an overhead shelf and a biology book is sitting on a table at waist level. The books are equal in mass. Which of the following statements about this situation is correct?

(a) The physics book has less potential energy than
the biology book.
(b) The physics book has more potential energy than the biology book.
(c) The physics book has more kinetic energy than
the biology book.
(d) Both books have the same amount of kinetic
energy and potential energy.

Answer 1

(b) The physics book has more potential energy than the biology book.

Question 2

What is the basis of thermal energy?
(a) the random motion of atoms and molecules
(b) the accumulation of static charges on a surface
(c) the interaction of protons and neutrons in atoms
(d) the stretching and twisting of molecules

Answer 2

(a) the random motion of atoms and molecules

Question 3

Which energy transformation takes place during
photosynthesis?
(a) nuclear energy to radiant energy
(b) radiant energy to chemical energy
(c) chemical energy to thermal energy
(d) thermal energy to chemical energy

Answer 3

(b) radiant energy to chemical energy

Question 4

true or false

When a force acts on an object in a direction
different from the direction of displacement, work
can be calculated if the angle between the force and displacement vectors is known.

Answer 4

true

Question 5

Into which two forms of energy is the electrical
energy that powers a light bulb transformed?
(a) radiant energy and thermal energy
(b) thermal energy and chemical energy
(c) chemical energy and elastic energy
(d) elastic energy and kinetic energy

Answer 5

(a) radiant energy and thermal energy

Question 6

Which type of energy is commonly a by-product of
any kind of energy transformation?
(a) radiant energy
(b) thermal energy
(c) chemical energy
(d) elastic energy

Answer 6

(b) thermal energy

Question 7

true or false

Mechanical work is calculated by multiplying the
magnitude of a force by the amount of time it is
applied.

Answer 7

false

Question 8

A 2000 kg rock rolls down a hillside at 40 m/s and
crashes into a large tree, where it comes to rest. The tree does not move. How much work was done on the tree by the rock?

Answer 8

no work done

Question 9

True or false

Work is done when an object moves on a frictionless surface at constant velocity with no horizontal forces acting on it?

Answer 9

false (work isn’t done)

Question 10

True or false

a person holding a book and walking across the room does no work on the book

Answer 10

true

Question 11

The total amount of kinetic energy and potential
energy possessed by the particles of a substance is its
(a) heat
(b) temperature
(c) kelvins
(d) thermal energy

Answer 11

(d) thermal energy

Question 12

The type of thermal energy transfer that can occur in solids, liquids, and gases is
(a) radiation
(b) conduction
(c) convection
(d) all of the above

Answer 12

(b) conduction

Question 12

-273 °C is known as
(a) the freezing point
(b) absolute zero
(c) heat capacity
(d) specific latent heat

Answer 12

(b) absolute zero

Question 13

The amount of energy that must be added to a
substance to raise 1.0 kg of the substance by 1 °C is the substance’s
(a) temperature
(b) thermal energy
(c) specific heat capacity
(d) kinetic energy

Answer 13

(c) specific heat capacity

Question 14

An increase in the motion of the particles that make up a substance will have what effect?

Answer 14

it will make the substance warmer

Question 15

True or false

A force that acts in a direction perpendicular to the motion of an object does positive work on the object

Answer 15

true

Question 16

true or false

a person who jumps into the pool will hit the water with the same amount of kinetic energy as the amount of potential energy they had from the height they jumped

Answer 16

true